Telephone system



Dec. 15, 1925. 7 1,565,727

H.'M. FRIENDLY TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed March 14, 1917 '2Sheets-Sheet l 2" o'- l'L L i' E INTR. START RLSE. TRK.

SUPY. 5 IG.

IHVEHTOR Do e. 15, 1925- 1,565,727

H. M. FRIENDLY TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed March 14, 1917 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IHVEHTOR F q- 4A Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

-HERBERT M. FRIENDLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed March 14, 1917, Serial No. 154,790. Renewed December19 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. FRIENDLY, a resident of Chicago, CookCounty, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelephone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to what are generally known as full automatictelephone systems, semi-automatic telephone systems and variations ofsuch systems, including manual telephone systems.

An object of my invention is to render more flexible and effective theinvolved equipments and to enable both central office and outsideconstruction to be conserved to a greater degree than practicable usingmethods heretofore in practice or known so far as I am aware. Otherobjects of my invention and the invention itself will be clear from thefollowing description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a common formof wiper blade with insulated members a and b.

Fig. 2 shows a side View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an end View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a schematic layout of a portion of a common form of connectorswitch, as used in automatic operation with modifications as-relates tothe application of signal- ;in current as will hereafter be adverted to.

Fig. 4*, which attaches below Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic layout of aportion of conneetor switch shown in Fig. 4:, together with diagrammaticlayout of connector-blank wiring and signaling current supply.

As an illustration of the application of my invention I shall set forthherein a typical connector embodying same.

By my novel arrangement I gain structural and operative advantages aswill here inafter be discussed.

For the purpose of this illustration I have chosen the well knowntwo-wire automatic system of the Strowger type as extensively used andnow furnished by the Automatic Electric Company of Chicago, Illinois,into which the present invention has been embodied. I also refer to theorganization of equipments set forth in my application for U. S. LettersPatent, Serial No. 138,149, issued as Patent No. 1,561,710,

N ov. 17, 1925, to which my present invention is readily applicable.

Further, by. my novel arrangement of equipments I am enabled to allow aplurality of signaling current frequencies or charactors of signalingcurrent to be impressed upon any accessible line or branch of a linethrough any single connector switch, the character of current to be soimpressed to be predetermined. That is, say four charactors of signalingcurrent are available in an exchange; if desired, any line or branch ofany line may be readily prearranged to have the desired character .ofcurrent applied to it for signaling purposes when seized by a connector.

It will be noted that through my novel arrangement the character ofsignal current is not determined by a prearranged condition of theconnector or connector group, but rather by a condition set up in anyconnector seizing a line through the agency of signal current supplyprearranged in connection with each line accessible to the connector orconnectors.

Referring to Fig. 1", G G G and G are sources of signaling current,which for the purpose of this illustration may be referred to as 16cycle, 33 cycle, cycle and 66 cycle respectively. This current supplymay be continuous, 01' it may be intermittent, or it may be what iscommonly called code. 1

Relay I is a so-called interrupter start relay, which is energized overwire S, contact of relay F, thence to ground through offnormal contacts.However, in place of supplying current of one character to the lowercontact of relayF over conductor r, as is a common practice, I connectthe said lower contact over wire r to the right hand contact blade ofwiper 76. From wiper k connection is made with bank contacts that areenergized with prearranged current character.

lVipers 7c are made up of two contact blades, mounted on same shaft withthe two line contact blades These are what are generally known as bankwipers and 0p erate in response to the vertical, rotary and releasemagnets of the connector mechanism shown in Fig.

Wipers 7 have access by vertical and horizontal movements to the linesor conductors leading out. Wipers 72, which are similar to wipers f,engage private contacts and signaling current contacts that arecompanion to the line contacts.

In the illustration one level of each of three sets of connector banksare shown. Any number of banks may he so connected together. As will henoted, the private and signal current contacts and the line contacts areeach shown in multiple relation. The connector switch and companionbanks are of the well known form, the switch having a shaft controllingmechanism and the banks made up of levels wherein line wires reachcontacts as shown in levels of the respective banks, B B and 13 wherelines are shown disposed in multiple relation.

Companion to said levels to which lines are connected, are correspondingauxiliary bank levels consisting of contacts to which lead companionprivate wires. These lat ter levels are shown as the left hand contactof each group of two in levels B, 3' and B The contact arrangementdescribed in the two foregoing paragraphs is a common practice. However,in addition to the above, I provide an additional or auxiliary set ofbank contacts corresponding to the line hank level through whichsignaling current is supplied the connectors, the said bank level havingcontacts companion to the said line and private contacts and appear asthe right hand contacts of each group of two in levels B, 3' and B Thesignaling current is applied to bank contacts in a prearranged manner ashereinafter described. The application of said signaling current is oneof the salient features of my present invention.

1 2 3, l 5, 6, 7, 8 9 and 1O are ten sets of six signaling currentterminals, there being a set of six such terminals provided for eachline appearing in the line banks. Thus, if, as is a common practice, onehundred lines appear in each of the multipled connector contact sets inthe banks, each said bank made no of ten levels of ten sets asdescribed; one level shown in 13 B and B there would he one hundred setsof the six said signaling current terminals to companion with same.

It will be noted that each of the top terminals, or first terminal as itwill be referred to. connects to a contact on interrupter start relay Iover wire g It will he further noted that said contact upon closing willapply signaling current from source G to and along said wire to eachsaid first terminals. Likewise each of the third terminals will insimilar manner receive signaling current from source G Likewise each ofthe fourth terminals will in similar manner receivc signaling currentfrom source G Likewise each of the sixth terminals will in a similarmanner receive signaling current from source G. It will he noted thatfrom the said right hand terminals in B, B and 3, hereinafter referredto as signaling current contacts, wires lead to each of the tencompanion sets of six cross connecting terminals, appearing as thesecond and fifth terminals (connected in multiple) of said sets 1. to 10inclusive.

Thus, if first and second terminals of set 1 he connected together, asshown, upon relay l actuating, signaling current from source G will heapplied to said first right hand contacts of B, B and B? Likewise ifsecond and third terminals of 2 he connected, shown, upon relay 1actuating, signaling current from source G will be applied to secondright hand contacts of B", B and B. Likewise if fourth and fifthterminals of 3 be connected, as shown, upon relay 1 actuating, signalingcurrent from source G" will he a plied to third right hand contacts ofB, B and 15'. Likewise if fifth and sixth to als of l be connected, asshown, upon relay I actuating, signaling current f om source G will heapplied to fourth ri t hand contacts of B, P) and 13'. Lilewise if firstand second terminals of 5 he co cted, as shown, upon relay I actuatingsignaling current from source G will he applied to fifth right handcontacts 15, Pi and B Likewise if second and third terminals of S beconnected, as shown, upon relay 1 actuating, signaling current fromsource G- will he applied to sixth right hand contacts of l B andLikewise if third and fourth terminals of 7 be connected, as shown, uponrelay 1 actuating, signaling current from source G will lie applied toseventh right hand contacts of B, B and 13? Likewise if fifth and sixthterminals of S lie connected, as shown, upon relay 1' actuating,signaling current from source G will he applied to eighth right handcontacts of B, B and B' Likewise if second and third terminals of 9 beconnected, as shown, upon relay 1 actuating, signaling current fromsource G will he applied to ninth right hand contacts of B, B and BLikewise if fifth and sixth terminals of 10 be connected, as shown, uponrelay 1 actuating, signaling current from source G will he applied totenth right hand contacts of B B and B? lit will thus he seen that thecharacter of signaling current applied to the respective right handcontacts of B, B and B will depend upon the two terminals of the saidcompanior set of six terminals connected together, and that the saidconnections may be readily made and disconnected to conform to changingconditions wherein it is desired to apply changed signaling current forsignal is S ii" on an articular line contacts to in turn be. sent uponthe connected line or line branch connected thereto, for signalingpurposes.

The function of the private is well known. Wipers is which are mountedto move corresponding to line wipers f in addi tion to engaging privatecontacts with one blade have a second blade, which likewise engages thecompanion signaling current contacts. Wire r is electrically connectedto the latter blade. So that when shaft and wipers have rotated to a setof line contacts in the bank level and thesame is non-busy and the lineis seized in the well known way by privateand line wiper blades,signaling current of the predetermined character is finding its way fromright hand contact over right hand wiper blade, over 1* to lower contacton relay F, contact on relay H, over wire L right hand blade of wipers fout over corresponding side of line through subscribers or subscriberssignal device or devices on line, back on companion wire of line pair toleft hand line wiper blade, over wire L to a contact on relay F, thesubscriber being signaled in the well known way so far as path ofsignaling current from line contacts in the bank is concerned, but withthe essential difference that in place of whole bank groups beingsupplied with but one character of signaling current, as many charactersmay be used as there are lines it need be, though the illustrationcontemplates but four characters'G G Gr and G. In place of the connectorswitch being supplied with one character of current by directconnection, the signaling current wiper traveling with its companionline and private wipers obtains signaling current from contactscompanion to line contacts. Thus my invention isparticularlyadvantageous if a branch from a party line to a set ofconnector bank line contacts exists (as disclosed in my applicationreferred to, Serial No. 138,149) and it is desiredto transfer asubscribers telephone from said line to a new line on which thepreviously employed charactor of current is used to signal a preconnected subscriber on said new line it will only be necessary to adapt avacant character of signaling current applicable to the said line,change the changing subscribers signal device to the proper kind torespond to the vacant character of signaling current, then connect theproper two terminals in the group of six corresponding to the connectorbank number of the subscriber concerned so as to correspond to the saidvacant character of signaling current, connect the said connector bankline contacts to the said new line cross connecting rack terminals inthe manner as before connected to the line changed from. a

In the illustration, party lines are shown connected into the same banklevel. It is practicable'to choose contacts corresponding to telephonenumbers at random in widely separated connector bank groups or banklevels of the same group without relevancy to numerical arrangement,connecting them in multiple relation through the agency of a crossconnecting means as set forth in my said application, Serial No.138,149, as party lines with each said line leading to groups ofsubscribers signal devices.

It is possible to make all lines accessible through bank contacts in anentire bank group signaled upon by but one character of current asheretofore, and to change any and all said lines or branch from anyparty line from this first character by cross-connection.

It will be observed that if the line contacts extend to individuallines, upon which is a single signal device, or to lines where more thanone signal device is employed, but where selective signaling is notdesired, it is only necessary to connect the proper two terminals in thecorresponding group of six at the top of Fig. 4 as previously described,to provide for the predetermined signaling current to be impressed onthat line when the line will be seized by the connector wipers ineffecting connection to the line. It is also apparent that if two ormore sets of connector bank line contacts are placed in multiplerelation, as a party line, each one of the respective sets of connectorbank contacts can be arranged for a predetermined character of signalingcurrent to be applied, when the connector wipers should seize therespective line cont-acts. Thus it connector contacts 1, 3, 6 and 10 areconnected in multiple relation in the connector bank levels as shown(making a fourparty line) it is possible to have four differentcharacters as predetermined applied when connector wipers seizerespective terminals in calling. The said line Will have signal devicesresponsive to the predetermined currents to be applied, such as currentsof 16, 33, 50 and 66 cycles respectively. Thus the signal devices willbe the respective subscribers station signals. Therefore, since thesesignals will be actuated responsive to a predetermined currentcharacter, the subscribers will be signaled selectively.

1, 2 and 3 are lines leading from connector bank terminals; line 1 beinga single party or individual line; line 2 is a two party line and line 3is a four party line Terminal sets represented by 1, 2 and 3 correspondto lines 1, 2 and 3 respectively and extend to line switches forincoming calling. However, the arrangement for incoming calling is notessential to carrying out my invention.

The wiper blades shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are similar to well knownforms and are carried on the connector shaft to engage the bank contactsapplying signaling current. The insulating portions a. and Z) are toallow the wiper point to glide over the bank contacts with leastfriction or obstruction and at the same time to make it impossible toshort circuit adjacent contacts while passing over them.

The descriptions in the foregoing are by way of illustration only. Myinvention may be widely applied and modified as an a1npli tication orused in part only without departing from its scope.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a telephonesystem, a connector switch, line bank contacts for the connector,ringing contacts for the connector bank corresponding to the linecontacts, a plurality of sources of different signaling currents, lineand signaling wipers tor the connector,

connectin rack for interchangeably connecting said sources of signalingcurrent and the bank ringing contacts, and a connection extending fromthe signaling wiper to a line wiper for conducting signaling currentfrom the selected bank signaling contact to said line wiper.

2. In a telephone system, a connector switch, line bank contacts for theconnector, ringing contacts f r the connector bank corresponding to theline contacts, a plurality of sources of different signaling currents,line and signaling wipers "tor the connector, a connecting rack forinterchangeably connecting said sources of signaling current and thebank ringing contacts, a connection extending from the signaling wiperto a line wiper for connecting signaling current from the selected banksignaling contact to said line wiper, and ringing interrupter meansincluded in the signaling current path.

3. In a. telephone system, a connector switch, line bank contacts forthe connector, ringing terminals for the connector bank corresponding tothe line contacts, a plurality of sources of different signalingcurrents, line and signaling wipers tor the connector, a connecting rackfor interchangeably connecting said sources of signaling current and thebank ringing contacts, a connection extending from the signaling wiperto a line wiper for conducting signaling current from the selected banksignal ing contact to said line wiper, and a ringing interrupterinterposed between the sources of signaling current and said connectingrack.

l. In a telephone system, a connector switch having line and signalingcurrent bank contacts. sources of signaling current oi? difierentcharacters, an interconnecting terminal rack interposed between thesources of signaling current and the bank signaling contacts forinterchangeably connecting the sources of signaling current and saidsignaling contacts, line and signaling current wipers for the connector,and means for conducting signaling current from a connected signalingcontact through the corresponding wiper to a line wiper.

5. In a telephone system, a connector switch having line and signalingcurrent bank contacts, sources of signaling current of ditterentcharacters, an inter-connecting terminal rack interposed between thesources of signaling current and the bank signaling contacts forinterchangeably connecting the sources of signaling current and saidsignaling contacts, line and signaling current wipers for the connector,means for conducting signaling current from a connected signalingcontact through the corresponding wiper to a line wiper, and a ringinginterrupted relay controlled from the connector and having interruptercontacts included in said signaling current conducting means.

6. In a telephone system, a connector switch having line and signalingcurrent haul-t contacts, sources of signaling current of diti'ercntcharacters, an interconnecting term nal rack interposed between thesources of current and signaling contacts for interchangeably connectingthem, and a interrupter relay common to said sources of current andinterposed between said sources and the interconnecting rack.

7. In a telephone system, a connector switch, a plurality of levels ofbank contact sets for the connector, each contact set including line andringing contacts, a plurality of sources of different signalingcurrents, ringing and signaling wipers for the connector, a connectingrack for interchangeably connecting said sources of signaling currentand the bank ringing contacts so that each ringing contact isindividually connect ed to one of said sources, and a connectionextending from the signaling wiper to a line wiper for conductingsignaling current from the selected bank signaling contact to thecorresponding line contact through the line wiper.

8.111 a telephone system, a connector switch having sets of bankterminals each comprising line contacts and a correspond ing ringingcontact, a plurality of sources of ditlerent signaling currents, lineand signaling wipers for the connector, a connecting rack interposedbetween said bank ringing contacts and sources of signaling current,said connnecting rack including a contact terminal for each bank ringingcontact and individually connected thereto, and a plurality ofassociated contacts each one of which is connected to a separate sourceof said signaling current whereby each bank line contact isinterchangeably connectable with said sources of signaling current.

0. In a telephone system, a line, a connector switch, line bankterminals for the connector, branches of the line extending to aplurality of the said terminals, a plurality of sources of signalingcurrent, means for impressing one of said sources of signaling currentupon the line dependent upon what line branch bank terminals are seizedby the connector, and a connecting rack interchangeably connecting saidsources of signaling current and the current impressing means.

10. In a telephone system, a line,.a plurality of connector switches,line bank terminals accessible to the connectors, branches of the lineextending to a plurality of the said terminals, a plurality of sourcesof signaling current, means for impressing one of said sources ofsignaling current upon the line dependent upon what line branch bankterminal is seized by a connector, and a connecting rack forinterchangeably connecting said sources of signaling current and thecurrent impressing means.

11. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of connector switches,line bank terminals accessible to the connectors, branches of the lineextending to a plurality of the said terminals, a plurality of sourcesout signaling current, means controlled from the connector forimpressing one of said sources of signaling current upon the linedependent upon what line branch bank terminal is seized by a connector,and a connecting rack for interchangeably connecting said sources ofsignaling current and the current impressing means.

12. In a telephone system, a line, a plurality of connector switches,line bank terminals accessible to the connectors, branches of the lineextending to a plurality of the said terminals, a plurality of sourcesof signaling current, signal devices on the line,se-

lectively responsive to the said sources of signaling current, meanscontrolled from the connector for impressing one of said sources ofsignaling current upon the line dependent upon what line branch terminalis seized by a connector, and a connecting rack for interchangeablyconnecting said sources of signaling current and the current impressingmeans.

13. In a telephone system, a party telephone line, a plurality ofsources of ringing current, a common ringing relay having a plurality ofdifi erent characteristic ringing paths including said sources ofcurrent extending therefrom each for selectively signaling one of theparties on the line, a connector switch, means including the connectorfor operatively correlating a said ringing path with the line, and crossconnecting means for interchangeably connecting said sources of ringingcurrent in the ringing paths.

14. In a telephone system, party telephone lines, connector switcheshaving line terminals, branches extending from each party line toappropriate line terminals of the connectors corresponding to thetelephone numbers of the telephones on the lines, selective ringingcurrents, means for applying a ringing current to a selected linecorresponding to the line terminal seized to ring the desired telephoneon the line, and cross connecting means for varying the relation betweenthe line terminals and ringing currents. 1

15. In a telephone system, a connector switch having line and signalingcurrent bank contacts, sources of signaling current of differentcharacters, an interconnecting terminal rack interposed between thesources of signaling current and the bank signaling contacts forinterchangeably connecting the sources of signaling current and saidsignaling contacts, line and signaling current wipers for the connectorrespectively cooperative with corresponding bank contacts coincidently,and means for conducting signaling current from a connected signalingcontact through the corresponding connected wiper to a line bankterminal then engaged by a said line wiper.

16. In a telephone system, party telephone lines, a connector switchhaving line terminals, branches extending from each party line toappropriate line terminals of the connector corresponding to thetelephone numbers of the telephones on the lines, selective ringingcurrents, means for applying a ringing current to a selected linecorresponding to the line terminal seized to ring the desired telephoneon the line, and cross connecting means for varying the relation betweenthe line terminals and ringing currents.

17. In a telephone system, a line, a connector switch, line bankterminals accessible to the connector, branches of the line extending toa plurality of the said terminals, a plurality of sources of signalingcurrent, signal devices on the line selectively responsive to the saidsources of signaling current, means controlled from the connector forimpressing one of said sources of signaling current upon the linedependent upon what line branch terminal is seized by the connector, anda connecting rack for interchangeably connecting said sources of signaling current and the current impressing means.

Signed byme at Indianapolis, County of Marion and State of Indiana, this10th day of March, 1917.

HERBERT M. FRIENDLY.

